Slot-machine



'ATENT FFICE.

JOHN VVAHL, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS.

SLOT-MACHINE.

SPEGIFICATION,forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,095, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed October 4:, 1897.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN W'AHL, of Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Slot-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings and to theletters of ref erence marked thereon.

My invention relates to an improvement in what are commonly termec slot machinesthat is to say, machines which by the dropping of a nickel or other coin into a slot provided for its reception deliver a cigar or other small article.

My object is to provide a machine of the above-named class intended chiefly for cigars more simple in construction and more reliable in action than those heretofore in use.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, taken in the line mac, Fig. 2, representing the features of my invention in combination with such other parts as necessarily cooperate with them. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the deliverydrawer made upon a smaller scale. I

Referring to the drawings, A represents an oblong box or case shown as having the cover removed. In the lower part of said box is a horizontal stage B, connected with an inclined chute 0, leading to an outlet D in the front of the box, as shown in Fig. 1.

Adapted to slide on the stage Bis abottomless drawer R, consisting rearward of a broad flat block E and forward of a narrow bar F, said parts having a space A between them to admit one cigar only and connected together by two metallic bars M. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) For the purpose of actuating said drawer a small rod Y is secured in the outer edge of the bar F, passing through the end of the inclosing box and terminating in a knob 70.

Secured to the rear edge of the block E, as shown in Fig. 2, is a spiral spring t, the opposite end of which is fastened to the end wall. of the inclosing box.

Serial No. 664,021. (No model.)

Inserted in the front end of the box A, as shown, is an inclined tube or conduit g, adapted to receive a coin and conduct it while rolling down upon its edge into a deep slot or groove (1, provided for its reception in the arm of a locking-lever d, which is fulcrumed upon a stud 01, secured in the side of the box A, the end of the opposite arm of said lever being provided with a stud S, adapted to engage with a notch e in the upper edge of the side bar t' of the drawer B.

To the upper part of the inside of each end of the box A is hinged, as shown at N N, the inclined front and rear ends of a hopper G, the wall Z of the box A, and movable partition J, forming the two sides thereof. (See Fig. 2.) Between the curved inner edge of the block E and the bar F of the drawer is a space A, just wide enough to freely admit one cigar onl Sb cured to the inner face of the front end of the box A is a plate h, located a little above and projecting slightly beyond the inner edge of the bar F when the drawer is fully pushed in. The use of said plate is to form a rest for the free end of the inclined front H of the hopper when the drawer R is pulled out.

To the top of the block E is secured a small bracket r, adapted, as the drawer nears the end of its outward travel, to impinge upon the free end of the hinged plate H and lift it slightly, as indicated by the arrow, and a similar bracket 7' is secured to the bar F for imparting a like motion to the hinged plate H as the drawer nears the end of its inward travel. The object of this contrivance is to cause such a movement of the cigars in the hopper as to prevent a jam and insure the falling of one into the drawer R every time the latter reaches the end of its rearward travel.

To limit the inclination of the lever 61 after receiving the coin, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, a stud c is secured in the side of the stage B. Now in this position the coin would instantly roll out of the groove in the lever and allow the return of the stud S to the notch 6 before the drawer could be pulled out for the delivery of the cigar. To prevent this, there is inserted in the side bar i'of the drawer a stud m, so located as to prevent the coin falling from the lever (Z until the drawer has been pulled out sufliciently far to prevent the stud S, when it falls, engaging with the notch c.

A little below the stage 13 and adapted to slide upon the bottom of the inclosing box A is a drawer f for the reception of the coins as they fall from the lever (Z.

To adapt the width of the hopper to the length of the cigars, each end of the box A is provided with a series of vertical grooves (1, in either pair of which the partition 1 may be secured.

The operation of the device is as follows: The boxA, being closed by a cover of the kin d usually employed or any other constructed in compliance with the requirements of the revenue law and the hopper filled with cigars, a coin is inserted in the conduit 9, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. Rolling down into the grooved of the lever (Lit tips by its weight the latter into the position shown in broken lines, lifting the stud S from the notch c. The drawer R, bein g now unlocked, is pulled out by the operator, as indicated by arrow 1. This brings the space a, containing a cigar, beyond the edge of the stage 13 and drops its contents upon the inclined chnte C, by which it is delivered, as indicated by the arrows 2 2. By this movement of the drawer R the coin is allowed to fall from the groove in the arm of the lever (E into the receptacle f. The drawer R, being now released from the hand of the operator, is returned to its former position by the reaction of the spring 15. It will be observed that the lever (I, being new relieved of the weight of the coin, instantly returns, by the preponderance of weight of the stud-arm, to the horizontal position, and the stud S, falling into the notch e, rclocks the drawer, while another cigar falling from the hopper takes the place in the space a of the one just delivered.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a slot-machine, a stage in connection with an inclined dclivery-ehu.te, a bottomless drawer having a capacity for one cigar only and constructed so as to slide upon said stage, a locking-lever fulcrumed 011 a stud secured in the wall of the inclosing box and having one arm provided with a stud which engages with a notch in the side of the bottomless drawer so as to lock the latter when at the rearward end of its travel, the opposite arm of said lever having a deep groove therein for the reception of a coin; an inclined conduit for conducting the coin from the hand of the operator to the groove in the locking-lever, a stud secured in the side of the bottomless drawer to prevent the coin falling from the locking lever until the drawer has been moved outward, all of said parts constructed and combined for united operation substantially as set forth.

2. In a slot-machine for the delivery of eigars, and having a sliding delivery-drawer, the combination with said drawer, of a hopper having the tops of the inclined sides thereof hinged to the inclosing box, the lower free parts being alternately vibrated by brackets secured to the delivery-drawer so as to urge the contents of the hopper downward and prevent the possibility of a 3' am all substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of September, A. D. 1897.

JOHN \VAIIL.

Witnesses:

L. M. CUTTING, D. E. BEATY. 

